Well, there is after the holidays.

Oh, right!

Yup- yup.

Yup.

Got that? Okay, keep reading.

Phew!

Why so many sizing options? Please, read on.

About Couture Sizing . . .

This woman's body is deeper from a side view than her curvy sister. She has average to very full bust cup size, with a lower bust point, full arms, tummy and hips. Her shoulders are more round, therefore, her sleeve cap is lower and wider, and her body silhouette from the front is straight or a triangle with hips as much as 6-10” larger than her chest. This body type requires more wearing ease; close fit is 10%, average fit is 12% and loose fit is 20%.

A modern standard, her body is rounder and looks thicker from a side view than the slender silhouette. She has an average to full bust cup, with a slightly lower bust point, average arms, rounder tummy and hips, and an erect to slightly rounded posture. Her sleeve cap is usually lower and wider than her slender sister. She has an hourglass or triangle body silhouette viewed from the front, with a hip measurement up to 4” larger than her chest. Wearing ease is 7% for close fit, 10% for average fit and 15% for loose fit.

Our slender sister has a smaller bust cup size, with a higher bust point, slender arms and hips, flat tummy and erect posture. Her sleeve cap is narrow and slightly taller in relation to the armhole depth. Her body silhouette viewed from the side is thin. Viewed from the front, her silhouette is straight or hourglass with a hip measurement up to 2” larger than her chest. This body type requires less wearing ease than other body types - close fit is 5%, average fit is 7% and loose fit is 10%.

STANDARD - ESYSKnits Shape (B) Designed to accommodate the traits of the average figure.

FULL - ESYSKnits Shape (C)Designed to accommodate the figure traits of the fuller body shape.

Then, select the pattern number & letter that matches your choice!

Just pick the shape you're going to knit!

Full (C)

Standard (B)

Slender (A)

Shape First! Size After!

How we Finely Fit . . .

We get fit! What makes couture is the fit and this is what makes our fit - FIT!

*Scroll down for more information to help you decide which shape is best for you. Each shape has a generous range of sizes from which to choose (see sloper chart below) and many contain optional shaping to address common fitting challenges. For additional tailoring, the wearing ease designed into the garment is also notated on the pattern front.

The tailored garments in the ESYSKnits collection are designed to accommodate BODY TYPES first, then SIZE WITHIN that body shape.

All of our 'Knit to Fit' patterns come in three shapes - SLENDER (A), STANDARD (B) and FULL (C).(See below to understand the design aspects incorporated into each body shape.) The icon accompanying each description will appear on the pattern to help identify the shape for which the pattern is written. The letter designation on the pattern number further identifies the shape.

ESYSKnits

Good fit is fashion Trompe l'oeil, tricking the eye into believing that our bodies are symmetrical and well proportioned. To look good you do not need a perfect body - just clothing that creates the illusion of symmetry and proportion. It is necessary to understand that a garment that looks good on a hanger, may not flatter the three dimensional aspects of the human body.

While knitted fabric is more forgiving than woven fabric, we can take our cue from the tailor to begin making garments that are more flattering. A well made garment will hang from the shoulders and flow out and over the contours of our bodies. The hem and shoulder lines will be level, and the side seams will hang straight on the wearer. This means the measurements of the upper body - the neck, shoulder, upper arm, upper chest and back are critical as the first rule of well fitted garments.

Circumferences are the second measurement, but a third critical determination is body shape. We are all familiar with the terms hourglass, straight, triangle and inverted triangle. These “ready to wear” terms are an additional attempt to address the more elusive factors of the body shape. However, they only address body shape as viewed from the front or back. In real life, differences in body shape are also observed from the side. Where the fullness occurs - front, back, upper abdomen, lower abdomen, lower side hips, high hip, lower buttocks, etc., will determine if a garment hangs straight or pulls or sags over the body. For instance, is there roundness of the back? This would indicate that more length is required in the back for the hem to hang straight on the body. Is there a narrow chest with a full bust? Accommodating this figure trait would require length (fullness) over the bust area, usually in the form of short row shaping.* Is there a very full tummy? So, this garment would have to reach out over the tummy and, without enough length (fullness) would result in pulling up in front. What about full lower outer hips with a small waist? a full bicep? Borrowing, again, from the sewing pattern industry, ESYSKnits pattern slopers are further divided into three body types from which to choose. By selecting both a chest measurement and a body type, the knitter is able to better ensure that the neckline, arm scythe and sleeve cap are shaped properly to support the garment. With a few quick body measurements and strategic alterations as noted in the pattern instructions, fullness can be added at the appropriate location to achieve fit without sagging or pulling while maintaining the intended design character of the garment. In addition, design elements such as pockets or buttons, are placed more suitably for the body type.